Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV1) released to further control the feral rabbit population.

2009

Natural strain of calicivirus (RCV-A1) found which causes resistance to RHDV.

2016

Researchers working on new tools to manage rabbits in Australia.

2017

Imported Korean strain of RHDV1 (K5) set to be released.

Impacts of rabbits in Australia

Australia’s most costly pest animal, rabbits cause $206 million in losses each year to the agricultural industry1.

They compete with grazing stock for food, contribute to soil erosion, damage crops and destabilise the land, potentially leading to injury of livestock.

Rabbits threaten the survival of more than 300 Australian native flora and fauna species2. This includes 24 critically endangered species such as the pygmy possum, orange-bellied parrot and ballerina orchid.

Less than one rabbit per football field sized paddock is enough to stop the growth of some native species and negatively affect biodiversity.

Rabbit biocontrol in Australia

Image: Chris Lane

Myxoma virus:Trialled by the CSIRO in the late 1930’s and 40s. It was released into the feral rabbit population in the 1950s and spread predominately by fleas and mosquitoes. Within months it knocked over 90% of some rabbit populations but became less effective over time due to developing genetic resistance in the rabbits. Today it affects an estimated 40-50% of the rabbit population.

RHDV: Trialled by the CSIRO in the early 1990s and released into the feral rabbit population in 1996. It initially knocked down 90% of the feral rabbit population but was less effective in cooler climates. Immunity and again resistance have become an issue.

RHDV2: Found in Australia in May 2015, RHDV2 is a variant of RHDV that was not released but has been detected in Europe and now Australia and may cause deaths to European rabbits. If RHDV2 is highly virulent it could potentially benefit rabbit biocontrol efforts within Australia3.

Benefits of rabbit biocontrol in Australia

Significant regeneration of native vegetation and population increases of native animal species.